I can't study! This is killing me!

I'm getting desperate. Time won't stop and there's just so much to study. College exams start and follow through January, and I have basically a whole semester to study until then. But it's just so hard, seems like half of my effort is spent only on trying to organize everything and keep myself focused. I get mentally tired quickly after a hour or so, and reading, which is already a difficult task, seems to become impossible. When there are things I don't understand, I struggle to organize my thoughts to learn it, and it makes me nervous.

My girlfriend, who's in my class, keeps showing me how she's doing so far, and she basically does in two hours what I take a whole afternoon to make and even more (much more). It makes me downhearted and anguished, I feel like I'm grasping at straws. We can't study together because we live a bit apart, and I feel like I'd just be dragging her down to my rhythm.

This whole situation is making me depressed... I talk to my girlfriend about this sometimes, but I hate to be constantly pushing my problems to her. Outside of her, there aren't really any people I can turn into. I don't know what to do...

My doctor told me to make a studying schedule, but I often feel like I'll not be able to follow it, or that I'm better able to judge what to study and how much time right in the moment. I'm not under any medication. My doctor acknowledged my ADD, but never mentioned putting me on medication, instead just gives me some occasional tips every time I rant about not being able to focus. Truth is, some years ago other therapist put me on Concerta, but it didn't really do much. I wonder if I should ask for pills?

So... this was my venting. If anyone can relate and help me, I welcome any tips.

I hope you'll get some practical responses soon. And some views on the meds.

I don't know much about ADHD so this is just a thought. Maybe the Pomodoro technique would help? This is a Lifehacker explanation [with all their advertising and pictures taken out.] I use a timer on my phone and set it to 10 mins of work with 5 mins break. But the 25 / 5 pattern is a good one to start with, especially for studying.

I agree with your doc about the benefit of making a schedule. You can always choose not to follow it on any given day, if you build some slack in at the end to cover anything you have missed out or were uncertain of first time round. But if you recalculate from day to day what to work on, it takes up time and risks forgetting parts. It also is likely to feel more overwhelming. If your schedule for the day is "read 5 pages and write a 200 word summary", you can tackle that. If it's "revise for the course" that's almost paralysingly general.

Never heard of that Pomodoro Technique, but seems interesting. I guess it's worth a try. Thanks!

Also, I figure that I need to stay awake some hours into the night studying to keep up the pace, so I'm gulping some coffee to help me. But I'm worried if the caffeine will actually make less focused or not. I already notice my leg shaking syndrome getting worse.

That's interesting to experiment with in the short term, but my expectation would be that it would cause more problems. That you'll then be tired tomorrow, so need more caffeine to wake you up. Which makes it harder to relax in the evening, and so on. Also screen time late at night can also cause sleep issues. Probably better if you can start earlier in the morning and give yourself some wind-down time in the evening instead. I mean, if it works for you, do it! If you feel like you "ought" to do it, and that it's not natural, try a different pattern.

How's your exercise rate? I know that can make a helpful difference in focus and it's something positive to alternate study sessions with.

The Pomodoro technique (never knew it had a name) works very well. Before using it I would look at the great expanse of information and time ahead of me and become overwhelmed, it would all float in my head. By using a timer I was able to take my mind of those things. I mostly set the timer for 20 minutes and studied hard in that time and after the timer went off decided to take a break, keep going, or stop studying for the time.

Caffeine shouldn't make you less focused if you're ADD but it won't really help much with studying. Also, in general ADD people will not experience the same hyperness most have with caffeine unless taken in staggering amounts. I think you should try a 5 hour energy instead of coffee. It has a lot of other things than caffeine which help much more with mental clarity. I think you should start off drinking half the bottle like it recommends for moderate energy.

Pomodoro technique works for me too !!!

I also found Pomodorium. It's kind of rpg game based on pomodoro technique , which makes whole process more interesting , for.ex. I can get gold for every pomodoro and can use it for rpg character upgrades, weapon,armor, levels, map, etc.

It was very helpful for me and amount of my pomodoros per day skyrocketed.